Helen Brown Introduction
© Ashley Tackett

When looking through the numerous photographs, letters, and pages of written commentary that surveyed the life of Helen White Brown, I was blown away by the many faces and places that this one solitary soul has touched throughout the course of her life. Reflecting on her acts of ministry, Pastor of Trinity Baptist Church, Jay Robinson stated, "Helen pours her heart into everything she does. In every instance she has treated all those around here with dignity and love. She really is a bridge of love from Christ to others." The ministry of Helen Brown's life is truly dedicated to building bridges of love.

Helen White Brown was born and raised in Northern Kentucky where her involvement in the church began at an early age. Upon completing high school, she pursued an experience sure to change her life by attending Georgetown College. Like many students, her years at Georgetown broadened her horizons and shaped her life to come. She met and became friends with others from all around the world, she ministered through music while playing the organ at a local Baptist church, and it was at Georgetown that she met her husband, Bob Brown. It was also during her time at Georgetown that she said, "The Lord laid ministry on my lap."

After graduation and years spent in Louisville at seminary, Bob and Helen followed a call to trinity Baptist Church in Lexington to begin a life in the ministry. Under their leadership, Trinity Baptist Church became one of the first congregations to desegregate. The Browns also oversaw the building and opening of the Bob W. Brown house that would provide non-profit housing for low-income, physically and/or mentally challenged adults to live independently. During this time she began to build bridges that reached out to members of society that are often overlooked, discriminated against, and neglected sharing with them the love of Christ. Although her husband Bob, a Georgetown College Hall of Fame member, died in 1980, Helen's commitment to the ministry at Trinity did not end for there were more rifts that needed to be bridges.

For many years she has been the director of the Children's department at Trinity Baptist that organizes one of the largest Vacation Bible schools in Lexington, by including classes for adults and classes at several nursing homes. She is also actively involved in back yard Bible schools, Camp Sing-Song which is a week's music camp for children, and visits a MASH unity for troubled teens. She is bridging the gap between youth and adults by pouring the love of Christ into the youth. In addition Trinity has two houses that provide returning missionaries a home and she makes sure that the houses are prepared for the families. Her ministry to others does not stop at the doors of Trinity. She has been the organist at Milward's funeral home for more than thirty years and has used that opportunity to minister to grieving families. She also supported members of her family, Joe and June Richey, in their vision to open Questfarm, a home and workplace for developmentally disabled adults to be able to develop independent living sills and to reach their full potential.

Her ability to be a bridge and an arm outstretching with the love of Christ has impacted the lives of all those she has met. It has also allowed her to build a bridge that transcends time and space and influences the lives of those whom she has never met, like myself. For, like Helen Brown, I too have felt the call to ministry on my life and I was able to put that into action last year with the opportunity to serve as a Co-coordinator of a ministry to Questfarm for students through our campus ministries. I hope that through my call to ministry that I can follow in Helen Brown's footsteps and I will also be able to build a bridge of love that connects others with Christ. Helen Brown's desire and heart to follow Christ has changed the lives of many individuals and her example of love and of service will impact generations to come by giving them an example of what it truly means to serve Christ.